‘White Christmas’ sparklesFrom the opening bars of “Happy Holidays” at the top of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” Brian D’Arcy James and Jeffry Denman set a tone that is so crisp it nearly sizzles. And that’s before they’ve even begun to dig into Randy Skinner’s sleek choreography and Walter Bobbie’s brilliant direction.

You’ll be dreamin’ of ‘White’ Xmas“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is as old-fashioned and sticky sweet as a candy cane, but ‘tis the season, people. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a happier holiday show in town.

Based on the 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby ... “White Christmas” ... is a bold, bouncy bag of song belting, tap-dancing and Christmas cheer, right down to the very end when snow falls on the audience.

A tradition in transitionFine-tuning continues for Boston Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’

For a child, there is no better introduction to the world of ballet than “The Nutcracker.” It’s colorful and accessible, with a child-centric story fueled by Tchaikovsky’s exquisite score. And Boston Ballet’s production is one of the most beloved around, marrying substantive choreography with eye-popping production values.

After a slow start (it was withdrawn after just 11 St. Petersburg performances in the winter of 1892-’93), The Nutcracker went on to become the most-watched ballet of the 20th century, and a staple of the Christmas season. It’s not hard to see why: underneath Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous score and a little girl’s fantasy about defeating the bad guys, saving your favorite toy, and flying off into candyland there’s a tale for adults.

Cast dazzles in spotty ‘Nutcracker’The opening scene of this year’s “Urban Nutcracker” at John Hancock Hall is one of the strongest and most intricate pieces of choreography seen in Boston in 2007. It’s a kind of friendly face-off of styles: energetic double-Dutch ..., polyrhythmic tap ..., daunting flamenco ..., and rousing Turkish dances ....

There are several meanings to the word popular, and BalletRox’s The Urban Nutcracker satisfies the truest of them, as a production that reflects and includes all kinds of people. The show, which runs through December 16 at John Hancock Hall, incorporates ballet as well as tap, hip-hop, flamenco, Turkish folk dance, swing dance, and street sports. There’s magic and mime, doo-wop and snow. The cast members, in all colors, range from pre-schoolers to seniors.

Jose Mateo brings humor and heart to ‘The Nutcracker’From the moment the curtain rises on Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” there’s magic in the air. This 20th anniversary production highlights the best of Mateo’s approach to the holiday classic as well as his approach to dance education. Every scene in this balanced production combines playfulness with precision.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum